Additional cast: Gordon Woolvett as "Mitch"; Wayne Best as Commander Lorek
Additional cast: Gordon Woolvett as "Mitch"; Wayne Best as Commander Lorek
Database Journal entry 47-3 Mark 7. Dread troops search the rubble for a teenage boy who eludes capture. The troops find immobile human bodies in the boys' path and try to follow the "trail". Power and Pilot, while searching a human encampment, also find immobile people. Pilot's scanner indicates the paralyzed bodies are still alive, but in a deep coma. Their investigation is cut short by the arrival of Soaron. Power and Pilot hide so as not to be spotted. Soaron digitizes the motionless bodies and reports his success to Dread. Dread is pleased with the results and attributes the paralysis to a variation of the Styx phase of Project New Order. Dread orders Soaron to continue searching for "the weapon". From the air, Hawk spots Dread troops chasing the teenage boy and swoops down to the rescue. Hawk engages several biomechs in battle, then tries to fly the boy to safety but is shot down. Hawk and the boy hide in the remains of a music shop. Hawk's flight stabilizers have been damaged. As Hawk begins talking to the frightened boy, he discovers that the boy has escaped from a Dread laboratory. The boy tells of being probed, injected and tested along with other people. The boy says everyone became paralyzed except him and he escaped. At the Jumpship, the remainder of the Power Team discuss the pattern of empty settlements and immobilized people. They theorize that Dread has developed a new weapon which effects people but does not damage buildings. Hawk radios the Jumpship to report his status and the team moves to rescue him. On the way to help Hawk, the Jumpship is attacked and disabled by Soaron. As the ship is losing power, Power fires a missile that disorients Soaron's sensors. The damaged Jumpship lands quickly and avoids detection by Soaron. Dread orders Soaron to continue with his primary mission and break off searching for Power. Hawk and the boy are still in hiding. Hawk is becoming sick, and the boy is losing faith in Hawk and in his hope for rescue. In his delirium, Hawk calls the boy "Mitch" because Hawk is reminded of his own (dead) son. While Pilot isrepairing the damaged Jumpship, Hawk receives a transmission from Commander Lorek, the human leader of the biomechs who are searching for Hawk and "Mitch". Lorek tells Hawk that the boy is a plague carrier. "Mitch" is a biological weapon, immune from the disease that paralyzes others. Lorek offers Hawk a cure in exchange for the boy. Provoked by Lorek, "Mitch" grabs Hawk's wrist transmitter and implores Lorek to leave him alone. The radio transmission gives away their position. The biodread troops, now joined by Soaron, close in on Hawk and "Mitch". Hawk tries to hold off the Dread forces and is willing to sacrifice himself so that there is time for the Power Team to arrive and rescue "Mitch". Soaron blasts Hawk and disables his Power Suit. As Soaron prepares to strike the killing blow to Hawk, "Mitch" puts himself in the line of fire to protect Hawk. Soaron has orders to take the boy alive. It hesitates. The team arrives and they are able to repel Soaron and escape, rescuing Hawk and "Mitch". At Powerbase a week later, Hawk wakes up to find he is cured from the disease. Mentor has synthesized a vaccine. Dread's plans are now foiled because without "Mitch" he can create no more plague carriers.